Quilting on the Edge

Tuesday's Two Cents: Old Memories

I've been thinking lately about images I remember from my childhood.....you know, the place I grew up. I think this is because I've been helping care for my mother since my Dad died four years ago.  She's in Assisted Living, and there's been times I've been thinking about the past.  I suppose this is natural due to the circumstances.  Anyway, I've enjoyed remembering some of the images and decided to share them on the blog today.

- an old green station wagon we called "the bomb"......it was parked in one corner of our driveway, my Dad used it to deliver newspapers on a rural route.  It was a real clunker, but perfect for the dirty job.

-living next door to a church.......it was a Baptist Church, I think.  On summer nights when they had services, their windows were open, and we could sit on our back porch stoop and watch inside. And listen to what was going on.  Sometimes it became quite noisy with singing and shouting.

- A row of daffodils blooming in the spring, alongside the garage.

-a pile of old bricks behind the garage, where I often saw daddylongleg spiders.  Since I was afraid of spiders, this is memorable.

-the neighbors' cherry tree next to their garage, with cherries to be picked from those branches that were low over our yard.

-my mother's old wringer washer.

-filling a large metal tub with water to dunk in on hot summer days.

-clothes outside on the line in the summer, and inside on a line in the basement in the winter.

-a scary coal furnace in the basement, with a coal storage room next to it, with a window through which coal was delivered into the storage room.

- the basement steps........I remember them because I had to wash them on Saturdays and I hated that job.

-the dining room table expanded and all set for holiday dinners.

-sharing a bedroom with my older sister, who I always felt had a far more interesting life than I did.  Of course she did........she was four years older than me!

-a small window in the garage attic that I wondered about all the time.

-bare spots for the bases for baseball games I played with my brother.

I can see how these images could be the inspiration for a small quilt I could call Memories.......a bit of a green car appearing from one edge of the quilt, a row of daffodils somewhere, ( or just yellow triangles if I wanted to do an abstract sort of piece), a row of shaped church windows, a tree limb with leaves and cherries hanging into the piece from the side.......the foreground could be a grassy type area, with some brick like shapes in a pile somewhere.   Maybe you can imagine your memories today as an inspiration for an art piece too...........inspiration as we know is everywhere!

 

 

Stepping Outside of the Box

I took this photo while on a plane about a month ago.....there was a small girl in front of me and when I noticed her hand against the side of the plane, it seemed like an interesting photo.  It looks like she could be bracing herself against some turbulence, but there was none.  She was just a fidgety 5 or 6 year old.  This is an example of doing something out of the ordinary, or outside of the box.

Another thing I like to do is when I visit a large bookstore, I purchase a magazine I've never seen.  It's always interesting to see what others may be reading that I know nothing about.  I've recently bought "EnlightenNext" magazine.  Part of its' mission statements reads "we strive to be leaders, examples, and pathfinders in the emerging field of integral and evolutionary spirituality".  I know all the words and what they mean, but I need to read through some articles to get the feel for the purpose of this magazine.  One article that I enjoyed is entitled "Your Heart, Hormones, and Emotions" by Peter Ragnar.  Basically, he writes about research that shows that emotions such as anger, anxiety, and other negative ones cause the increase of production of free radicals and the hormone cortisol which can lead to heart disease.   Ragnar then follows up with advice on how to "gently let go of your demands, addictions, and attachments" as a way to avoid these negative emotions.  Basically, it's not the events that cause these emotions, it's your reaction to these events.  Good advice.  Besides the articles, I also read about new people, see ads for books, seminars, and other items, and interesting photos that I'll no doubt keep stored away for expression in some way, which for me means in a quilt. I enjoyed seeing the ZEN Alarm Clock, which uses natural acoustic sounds and gongs to awaken you.......now, that does sound interesting to me as well.  Point is, this magazine opened a door to a world I knew nothing about before I began to flip through its pages.  And that's what I call stepping out of the box.  It's a good thing to do once in a while.......take an unusual photo, listen to a new radio station, find a new genre of books to read.........all in the effort to raise your awareness of the world around you and stimulate new thinking about our world.  Basically, get out of your  RUT.  Try it, you may like it!

Tuesday's Two Cents: Notes from Niam's House

 We're visiting our 5 day old grandson Niam at his house in Pittsburgh.  I say HIS house because, as anyone knows, once a new baby arrives, he automatically becomes the person in charge of that house. And what a delight he is!!  Here's what I've noticed in the first day I've been there:

I had forgotten how tiny a 7 pound 20 inch long baby really is........and Niam's Dad was less than 7 pounds, so he was even tinier.  Of course, tiny equals cute.

Intelligent grown up mature adults have no trouble looking at the facial expressions of this tiny being.  A raised eyebrow, pursed lips, a yawn.....whatever, it's amazing.  And cute.

I also had forgotten how much stuff is needed for such a tiny being....and believe me, it is even more today than 30 years ago. 

It's pleasant to watch your kids be in charge of their new son.....take the responsibility, take the worry.......give the love.  That's comforting.

Like most babies, Niam has lots of toys and books waiting for him to discover in his room.  All just at the ready for the day he's big enough or able enough to reach out and enjoy them.  Now that makes someone feel welcome!

I feel a sense of joy and freedom........joy that life has continued on in this family, and freedom that it is now the next generation's turn to raise those kids into adults.  oh, there's a few changes from  how things were done by us years ago.......new gadgets, new worries, new diseases, new medicines. New ideas about what's good or not good for the baby.......that's all fine too.  But the most important thing Niam needs is something he fortunately already has......a lot of LOVE from his family.   Welcome to our world, Niam! 

Happy Halloween!

No, I didn't make these cookies, but I saw them in the bakery counter of Ginny and Jane E's here on Anna Maria Island, and I snapped a photo.

Besides, there's fewer calories this way, right?

Whether your getting treats or handing them out, enjoy the eerie spooky Halloween holiday........ and don't eat too much candy.  Sigh......I don't have little ones around anymore whose candy bags I can raid after they go to bed, so I'll guess this image will have to suffice.  

Art Quilt In Progress

Remember the fabric I dyed in layers a few weeks ago?  Well I finally got around to creating something with them.  This photo here was my first attempt at seeing what I might do.  I eventually sewed this piece together, but after staring at it for several days, and I do mean several, I couldn't see where it was heading.  So I cut that sewn piece apart and started rearranging the pieces to create something more interesting.  My goal is to create an art quilt that has several layers of illumination attracting the viewer....the next photo is what I have up to this point. This piece is not sewn together yet at all......the pieces are all just setting on my design wall waiting for the next go ahead and sew it together feeling.   Here it is:   I added the navy/white pieces which are also hand dyed by me a few years ago.  The smaller purple squares were from my store bought stash.  Now, I'm liking this a lot better, but of course, it will have to set there for a while till I make up my mind to start sewing it together.   I envision perhaps even more light windows painted over the surface........maybe stencilled on, maybe using tulle, I don't really know right now.  But here's where I am as of now.   What do you think?

Something I Stumbled Upon........

Just had to share this link to unusual staircases.......you gotta see these!

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2008/11/22/unusual-and-creative-staircase-designs/

some made me dizzy, some are extremely creative!

Tuesdays' Two Cents: Friends and Birthdays

Isn't this just a great card???  This card is an original made by my friend Bea who lives in Vero Beach, Florida.  If you click on it for a better view, you'll see that each of those grapes are individually punched out with a hole puncher and applied to the  card. That's amazing, but I know that making original cards are Bea's passion.

She uses watercolor paper, and paints it with different colors to create unique papers, which she then uses as she pleases on her cards.  This is so special that she made and sent me this card for my birthday! Thanks, Bea.

I also received many other beautiful cards from friends and family with strong sentiments of caring and love that mean a lot to me.  I hope the sending of cards tradition never leaves us........even though there is email, texting, and other ways.  Receiving a card you can hold in your hand and read again and again is just priceless. And you can save it for another day!  So a big thanks to Bea, Janet, Nancy for remembering my special day.  It made turning the calendar to another year of life meaningful.  And to all my telephone friends who called, like Sue and Karen.  AND to all my online friends who wished me well on Facebook.  You all matter to me a great deal and I won't forget it!!!!  

Anna Maria Island October 23, 2009

This is the place I took my walk this morning about 7 AM on the Gulf on Anna Maria Island Florida. 

This is a special day for me, being my birthday........and I started it out just as I often do.  Except today the weather was just right and the view at early sunrise was wonderful.

I'm grateful, and just wanted to share this spectacular photo with you.   A great way to begin the days ahead of another calendar year.

Hope your day is also what you hope it will be. 

Tuesdays' Two Cents: Things that Comfort

This is a pretty old art quilt I made about 5 or more years ago.....it's hanging on the wall of the landing going upstairs.  I've always liked this piece because of the mother and child in it......I remember how hard I worked to get the feeling of wind blowing which is so common by the seashore.  I always like seeing it on my way up or down the stairs.  The sand was made with little pieces of different colored tan/brown fabrics, collaged in place.  I believe I hand painted the water fabric.  Why am I showing this now?  I guess because it is a favorite of mine that I continue to leave right where I first hung it.  Favorite things, I find, bring comfort in trying times.  To me, these are trying times, for many reasons.  So it's important, as I see it, to surround yourself with things that you love.....things that remind you of who you are, what makes you happy, and what you've accomplished.   Maybe there's mementos that bring back a special memory.  It could be something simple, like an old greeting card you received once.  These are some of my favorite things to look at again and again.  I have a few favorite books that I take back and forth between Indiana and Florida just to have them with me.  One is entitled Where Ever You Go, There You Are........another is Favorite Poems.  And I do read through them again and again, sometimes they are the perfect antidote to feeling edgy or stressed.  Something familiar.  Who doesn't have an old sweatshirt or shirt that when worn, makes you feel just right?  Or habits that signal a comforting moment.........one of mine is putting on a pair of socks when my feet are cold in bed.  Silly, perhaps, but it always works to comfort myself.  The world keeps on spinning with change whether we like it not, so take advantage of any and all opportunities to comfort yourself. Just my two cents for today. 

Back to Dyeing Fabrics Again!!

Finally I am able to get back to some fabric dyeing.  Thought I'd share a little of my first experiments.  There are not original, but learned from various technique books on fabric dyeing.  The first experiment I did was layering fabrics in one  container using three different dyes. Here's a photo of the fabrics in place:  

I first used a piece of scrunched up fabric on the bottom, covered with red dye.   Then I added another piece of fabric, covered that one with dark blue dye, then I added a third piece and covered that one with green dye. Here's how it looked when I finished adding the dyes and it was waiting to be finished.  I kept it this way for about an hour.  Next will be the photos of the three pieces of fabric that resulted from this technique: 

 

This fabric was at the bottom of the container. It picked up some of the blue dyes from the piece placed on top of it, but kept some of the red already in place.  Plus, created varying shades of violet.

This fabric was in the middle of the container.  It picked up a little of the red dyes on the fabric below it, the white parts are areas that did not take dye well because they were crumpled fabric areas.

   

This fabric was the piece on top which I poured green dye over.  It also absorbed some of the blue dye from the piece below it.

I like all of these results, except next time I will use a smaller container.......so the fabrics are more crumpled and more white areas occur.  AND, I will wait longer between applying the different dyes so allow each piece to seep in the colors longer.